Hurricane Center
ALERT: Mayor Kenneth T. Welch has issued Executive Order 2023-04, extending the state of local emergency related to Hurricane Idalia through October 2, 2023: Executive Order Here.
Safeguarding Against the Storm
Hurricane preparedness is a part of life in St. Pete and the City of St. Petersburg urges citizens to take necessary precautions to protect themselves, their home and property, and their communities before, during, and after the storm. Much of St. Pete lies in evacuation zones; make sure you have a plan before there’s a storm approaching.
Are you a resident that also owns a business in St. Pete? Click here to see a centralized page for federal, state, county and local resources specific to business owners.
Evacuation Info | Sign Up for Alerts | Debris Removal | Sandbags | Report An Issue | Storm Recovery
Hurricane Idalia Recovery Resources
Emergency Housing Resources:
American Red Cross Shelter
In cooperation with Pinellas County and the City of St. Petersburg, the American Red Cross has opened a shelter at Allendale United Methodist Church for anyone who needs a safe place to stay after Hurricane Idalia.
Allendale United Methodist Church
3803 Haines Rd. N.
St. Petersburg, FL 33703
More information here.
Recreational Vehicles & Travel Trailers
Mayor Ken Welch is authorizing the on-site use of recreational vehicles and travel trailers on residential lots for residents in flood-impacted neighborhoods. For the next six months, the City of St. Petersburg will suspend issuing fines, citations, and penalties related to this specific sheltering and housing plan for residents who have been displaced by Hurricane Idalia.
More information here.
FEMA Financial Assistance
Residents impacted by Hurricane Idalia may be eligible for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) financial assistance for temporary lodging, basic home repairs, personal property losses, and other uninsured disaster-related expenses.
For more information or to apply, visit DisasterAssistance.gov, download the FEMA App, or call toll-free 800-621-3362.
More Assistance
St. Pete residents in adversely affected areas can contact Helen Rhymes, Social Services Planning Manager, at helen.rhymes@stpete.org or 727-893-4149 for additional assistance.
Debris Removal
The City of St. Petersburg will begin collecting storm debris in flood-impacted neighborhoods on Thursday, September 7. The City is asking residents who would like their debris picked up, to place separated debris on the curb. If residents have items that they need to keep for insurance or other purposes, they should keep them on private property and make sure they are not on the curb or right of way.
If you would like debris picked up, follow these guidelines.
What We're Picking Up
The City of St. Petersburg will be picking up the following types of debris in flood impacted areas:
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Construction and demolition (C&D) debris
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Fencing Materials - fences knocked over during the storm
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Construction Materials - building materials, carpet, drywall, furniture, lumber, plumbing
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White goods (appliances and furniture)
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Appliances - air conditioners, dishwashers, washers and dryers, stoves, refrigerators, water heaters
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Electronics - computers, televisions, and other devices
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Hazardous materials
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Batteries, cleaning supplies, paints, pesticides, oils, compressed gas
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Debris Placement
If your debris is placed in the below location, that indicates to our team that it's ready to be picked up. If it's not ready for pick up, please keep on your private property.
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Place debris in front of the house near the roadway curb.
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DO NOT place debris near trees, poles, fire hydrants, utility boxes, or other structures that make debris removal difficult.
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DO NOT place debris in alleyways or on sidewalks.
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DO NOT place debris in the street or block roadways.
Vegetative Debris
Residents that have vegetative debris from the storm, please place it in your trash bin for regularly scheduled pick up. If it does not fit, please call 727-893-7398 or submit in SeeClickFix to schedule a special pick-up.
Storm Idalia Executive Orders
- 2023-06 – Extended State of Local Emergency
- 2023-05 – Extended State of Local Emergency
- 2023-04 – Extended State of Local Emergency
- 2023-03 – Extended State of Local Emergency
- 2023-02 – Order for Initial Emergency Powers
- 2023-01 – State of Local Emergency
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Know Your ZoneLearn More
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Guide to Hurricane PlanningLearn More
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Sign Up for Alert St. PeteLearn More
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Shelter InformationLearn More
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Report An IssueLearn More
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Flooding InformationLearn More
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Storm RecoveryLearn More
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Debris RemovalLearn More
How To Prepare For A Storm
The best time to prepare for a hurricane is before there’s one approaching. View the City’s Good Neighbor Guide: Hurricane Planning for tips on how to prepare for hurricane season.
- Sign up to receive emergency notifications with Alert Pinellas (Alert St. Pete)
- Visit Know Your Zone or call 727-453-3150 to learn your hurricane evacuation level
- Review Pinellas County's Hurricane Guide
- Find resources from the Florida Division of Emergency Management
- View the latest tropical information from the National Hurricane Center
- Plan ahead for sandbags
- To avoid your trash and recycling bins from being swept away during a storm, bring them in from the curb to inside the garage or next to the house.
Evacuation
Take the necessary steps to prepare yourself, your family, and your home in the event that you need to evacuate. Don't wait until a storm approaches; know your zone and make a plan now.
- Know Your Zone
- All-Hazards Preparedness Guide
- Shelters
- Emergency Contacts
- Pinellas County Emergency Management
727-464-3800 - St. Petersburg Emergency Management
727-892-5200 - St. Petersburg Citizens Information Center
727-893-7111
- Pinellas County Emergency Management
Evacuation Assistance Program
Residents who require assistance in an evacuation should pre-register as early as possible. Through the Evacuation Assistance Program, citizens who cannot transport themselves to a shelter will be taken to a general evacuation shelter, a special needs shelter (John Hopkins Middle School, 701 16th St. S., St. Petersburg), or the appropriate facility, such as a hospital or nursing home. Residents MUST pre-register to access these services and should NOT wait until a storm is approaching. Register for evacuation assistance today at 727-551-3822.
Accessibility Preparation
All St. Pete residents should be prepared for emergencies, and people with disabilities need to make additional preparations to ensure their safety and comfort in the event of an emergency situation. An evacuation assistance program is offered to help local residents with special needs in the event of an evacuation due to a hurricane or other emergency situation. Residents MUST register before services are needed. Register for evacuation assistance on Pinellas County's website or call 727-551-3822. Find more resources here.
Preparing Your Boat
Don't forget to consider your boat when preparing for a storm. Find boat preparation tips from Pinellas County.
Pet Preparedness
Pet owners are responsible for disaster planning for their pets. If you plan to evacuate, plan for your pet as well. Red Cross shelters cannot accept pets. If you plan to go to a public shelter, make other provisions for your pet. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR ANIMALS BEHIND IF YOU EVACUATE.
- Review Ready.gov Preparing Your Pet for Emergencies.
- View pet-friendly shelters and other Pinellas County information on Pinellas County’s Pet Preparedness page.
Tips to Follow During The Storm
Follow Pinellas County's guide for what to do and when to act during a storm. Be prepared to evacuate, if necessary. Monitor the appropriate news channels in your local area for instructions as well as StPeteTV (Cable 615/15/20). Find out how to get alerts from your cell phone when the power is out. Learn where sandbags will be available, generator safety tips and local radio stations that will broadcast city information.
The City of St. Petersburg will also provide storm-related information through its social media channels. Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/stpetefl or on Twitter @StPeteFL or St. Pete Public Works @StPetePW.
- Shelters
- Report Outages and Problems
- Report Non-Emergency Issues (fallen trees, etc.)
What to Do After the Storm
After the storm passes, use a battery-powered radio to listen for news reports about damage, road closures, power outages, and other emergency instructions. Continue to follow the City of St. Petersburg on social media for real time updates.
Plan on three to seven days of uncertainty, depending on the storm, and be prepared with enough supplies in your storm emergency kit (food, water, medications, and entertainment). If Pinellas County is hit by a hurricane, it could be several weeks or even months before life gets back to normal.
- Pinellas County’s After the Storm Safety Tips and Recovery Assistance
- FEMA Assistance
- Report Issues for City Maintenance
Following severe storm activity and power disruptions, there may be non-working traffic signals in the city. If you encounter an inoperable signal, remember to approach the intersection as a four-way stop. At a four-way stop, the first vehicle to reach the intersection should move forward first. If two vehicles reach the intersection at the same time, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right.
Debris Removal
Idalia brought minimal debris impacts to St. Pete. Here's how you can dispose of debris on your property.
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Debris can be broken down and placed in the regular trash bin (black bin) for pickup. If items are too large for the bin, please place at the curb but do no block roadways or sidewalks. Residents are asked to not bag their debris. Bagged debris will not be able to be collected.
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All brush site locations are open and residents are welcome to bring brush debris to those facilities if desired.
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Contact the Sanitation Department at 727-893-7398, or use SeeClickFix to schedule a pickup.
Property Repair
As property owners make repairs to storm-damaged structures, the City of St. Petersburg reminds residential and commercial property owners to obtain the proper permits and to use licensed contractors.
Work which does not require a permit includes minor repair including cosmetic and finishing work. A list of work exempt from permit requirements is available on the permitting page.
The Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board (PCCLB) site includes a list of licensed contractors and the Disaster Contractors Network lists contractors who are registered with FEMA for disaster-related projects.